PurpleLine Consulting

Who's Helping You Out?

Happy New Year!

One of the messages I’ve noticed constantly in recent days is to surround yourself with people who have a positive impact on your life. It’s a message I’m taking very seriously.

Whether it’s in my personal or professional life having good people around me is an important influence on how I feel, what I do and the progress I’m making towards achieving my goals.

My tendency is to have a small number who I know and who know me very well. That’s fine, but it does mean over-dependency on very few people. So I’ve been thinking about who those people are and how to recognise them when they come into my life.

1. People who make me laugh. Who are fun to be with at one level and at a deeper level who also share a sense of what is important and what is not. They bring out my playful side and I lighten up as a result and am open to new learning and experiences. When I think back over my career, some of the most enjoyable times were being with colleagues, like John, who were great fun to work with.
   Who makes you laugh?
2. People who make me think – and think differently. Who challenge and expand my thinking and are open to expanding their own. We usually look for people who agree with our own point of view and I find it refreshing to be with those who broaden my perceptions and perspectives. My daughters gave me a Nintendo DS with Brain Training for Christmas. It was a bit depressing to start off with a brain age of 76 but I’m now down to 5 years less than my actual age. Through it I have also discovered Sudoku - and I’m hooked. I had previously dismissed it because I was not a numbers person...
   Who makes you think?
3. People who are positive. Who see possibilities and want to find a way through things rather than just the blockages. Who are prepared to go that extra mile to get the outcome they want – both for you and for themselves. A couple of years ago at a networking event I met Alison, and we ‘clicked’ immediately. Alison has imagination, courage and tenacity– and she is using these to get her business off the ground, despite numerous setbacks. She is a real inspiration.
   Who are the positive people around you?
4. People who are willing to share their knowledge and experience. Who are further along the path than you are and want to help you avoid the pitfalls and traps that they’ve experienced. Karen is like that. She has her own very successful business. I met her at the gym and since I’ve started PurpleLine Consulting she has been a constant source of encouragement and ideas. I’ve learned so much from her.
   Who are the people around you who are willing to share their knowledge and experience?

Think about the people who are important to you, those who have a positive impact on YOUR life and who can help you achieve your goals. Identify your own criteria and notice how you attract more of them into your life – and the positive results that follow.

Coaching for HR

I’ve launched a new service – Coaching for HR .

HR people are facing big challenges in 2009. Supporting organisations to achieve results through their people whilst often facing job uncertainty themselves, they take or are offered little support. In fact they tend to put the needs of the organisation way in front of their own. While this is laudable in many ways, it can also mean that HR people are not in the best place to deliver the approach the organisation wants and needs.

Coaching for HR provides a range of services to address this from making a change or breakthrough in HR service delivery to deciding what the next step is in your career.

Visit the website for more information, to sign up for the newsletter and to download a copy of the free report – 7 Skills that set the Excellent HR Practitioner Apart.

I’m offering PurpleLine Consulting newsletter subscribers a 15% discount on Coaching for HR services booked and paid for before the end of March 2009, so email or call me on +44 (0) 1763 245 323 to discuss how Coaching for HR can support you to be your best in 2009.

And if you have family, friends or colleagues who would benefit from these services do forward this newsletter on to them.

If you’d like support to achieve your goals in 2009 visit our website , send me an email or call me on +44 (0) 1763 245 323 for an initial, no obligation discussion.

If there’s a particular topic you’d like to see covered in future newsletters, please let me know .

Till next month,

P.S. Training places available

A colleague, James Caplin, has places available on the following one day courses he is running in London:

Communicate, on 23 January, focuses on listening. A core skill for living a good life.

Connect, on 6 February, focuses on networking. In times like these, a vital business skill.

Solution Focus working on 25 February, is a delightful alternative to the normal way we approach situations.

Influence, on 20 March, focuses both on how to influence others, and how to defend yourself when others seek to influence you.

You can see a short, informal video made at one of these masterclasses on YouTube . Contact James for further information at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Have a friend or colleague who might be interested in this newsletter?
Why not forward them your copy?